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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 142 Comments · by

Suit of the Week: White House Black Market

Suit of the Week |

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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional. I'm not usually a fan of red suits, but this one caught my eye at White House Black Market (where, side note, a friend just spent $1,700 — so apparently the store is worth a look right now!). I love the seaming on the jacket, and I think it looks great in plus sizes as well as regular and petite sizes. I also like the jacket's stand collar and hook-and-eye closure, and that the suit is fully lined and (huzzah!) machine washable. There's a very nice red dress that goes with it (although it's a little on the long side), as well as a flounce-hem skirt and pants — so there are a lot of options. I don't know if I'd necessarily wear the blazer together with the pants or skirt, but I think they look great as separates with the option to add the blazer if you need it. The entire suit is currently on sale: The jacket (Stand-Collar Suiting Jacket) is $83.99, the pants (Crepe Slim Flare Suiting Pants) are $48.99, the dress (Seamed Suiting Sheath Dress) is $90.99, and the skirt (Flounce-Hem Pencil Skirt) is $48.99. This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 9.16.24

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Kat Griffin is the founder, publisher, and editor-in-chief of Corporette. You can read more about her here.

Comments

  1. Rideshare from DC's Union Station: Tips?

    Any tricks for getting an Uber / Lyft pick up from Union Station in DC?

    I came in on a 10:00 pm train and the pick-up / drop circle was so congested that I gave up and took a cab. After that ride I swore I’d never do it again. Any tips for getting the rideshare from there?

    Thanks in advance!

    • Anonymous

      I average about a cab trip per day in DC for work – here’s the trick: only accept rides from the newer Toyotas. If you see an older car, like an old Crown Vic, just tell them no thanks/let someone else take it. Only accept a ride with a mini van if you really need it – they’re generally in fine condition, it’s just that the drivers always seem a bit squirrely.

      Here’s why: in DC, the cabs are individually owned by their drivers. Toyotas are popular with the cabbies because of their good reliability, warranty, and free maintenance. The drivers care a lot about their cars because they’re fighting hard to keep their livelihoods and beat back competition from Uber. The older cars? Those are loaners that taxi cab companies keep on hand to lend out to part-time drivers, so they’re generally poorly maintained and who knows what you’ll get for a driver. I have never had a good ride in one of the older cars.

      Uber drivers are royally 3ffing up traffic in this town and it kills me. I work/cab/drive downtown and Uber drivers are most often from far out in the suburbs, have literally NO idea where they’re going, stop in the MIDDLE of a moving lane of traffic because their passenger said to, and fail to drive with the speed of traffic. By and large, I love our cabbies. I’ve not had a cab driver who wasn’t an immigrant, each with his own fascinating story to tell. They are hardworking, friendly, curious people who moved to America for a better life. That’s what we all say we support, so I put my money where my mouth is and take a cab every time I can.

      • Anonymous

        I appreciate the advice on how to find a better taxi, since I’ve had some unpleasant experiences (nothing horrific, but it’s not a great feeling when the person driving a car you’re in is acting erratically, not consistently seeming to drive towards the destination, or screaming at you). In many ways, I feel less safe in Uber or Lyft, since the drivers aren’t professionals, but I appreciate that there’s an electronic record of who picked me up when, as well there being no need to pull out my wallet.

    • Knope2020

      Walk to in front of the postal museum or Ebenezers coffee (depending which direction you’re going) and call from there

    • Anonymous

      There is a “back door” you can go out of– it’s an exit from down the escalators where the metro station is. This lets out onto 1st St. NE. I usually have my Uber pick me up from there when the main entrance is busy.

    • Anonymous

      Do not let the driver look up your legs. Some of them have rear seat cameras.

    • Marshmallow

      “The ring Strasser financed with his savings, two credit cards, and a $30,000 personal loan ” — This phrase is so embarrassing that I would never sue because if this is what comes up when you Google his name, no client will ever trust his judgment.

      Also, I know the lead-in to the article is supposed to be tongue in cheek, but I find it plays on sexist tropes. He made his own (terrible) decisions.

      • Anonymous

        *horrified face emoji* – who needs a 4.6 ring? That to me is either the ring of a) the 20 year anniversary present or b) the 25 year old fitness instructor being proposed to by the fat 60-something dentist whose first wife disappeared mysteriously and he collected insurance payments

        • Anonymous

          I know a woman who was proposed to with a 5.5 carat engagement ring. She announced the carat size when she announced the engagement. It was also insanely good clarity, so I think it was in the $500k+ ballpark (the groom has family money). They were the same age (mid-20s) and both went to Ivies and had similar prestigious careers (think Big Law, Big Finance). They ended the engagement a couple years later without ever marrying. The guy then proposed to a different woman with a much more modest ring, and they got married and seem happy.

          I find the whole thing fascinating from a sociological perspective and I would love to know what each of them was thinking through the whole thing. I don’t get the vibe that the first fiance insisted on a giant ring, so if I wonder if the second fiance feels a bit slighted that he didn’t splash out like that for her. (And I say this as someone who has a <$1k engagement ring.)

        • Cat

          4 is pretty big, but not unheard of, in the Biglaw Associate Diamond Olympics.

          • Anon

            Maybe its a regional thing, but I don’t think I saw anything above 2 carats on associates, or even in general. Too big looks gauche. And tbh, I don’t think people have a good conception of how large 4 carats is on an average hand, and that it looks kind of ridiculous on a slender or dainty hand. I have people comment on my ring and its just above a carat (though of good clarity and color, so it may be more of a shine factor).
            For reference: see last picture

            https://www.diamondregistry.com/4-carat-diamond-price/

    • Torin

      Rings for both of us + wedding + honeymoon cost less than 1/3 of just their ring …

    • Is it Friday yet?

      Wow. I ended up reading the entire complaint – what an amazing trainwreck. I really want to read her response now.

    • Anonymous

      I actually knew this guy in college and this has resulted in a flurry of conversations amongst friends this morning. The odd thing to the lawyers among us is there was no reason for the complaint to be that detailed. Like, why?

      • Anon

        I was thinking the same thing. Do they need to “prove” that it was in fact an engagement ring, and not a normal gift, for him to be able to get it back (under the conditional gift theory)? So much of the complaint seemed almost gratuitous – for instance, when they’re describing how he proposed.

      • Anonymous

        SO detailed. I’m surprised he didn’t include her email where she demanded he buy her the ring!

    • S in Chicago

      Both sets of parents needed to be called on the weekend of the fight. Wow….just wow.

      My parents and I are close, but I would rather die than bring them into something like that. You’d think both of them were 17 years old…Just nuts.

      • Anonymous

        Let’s not pass judgment when we don’t know the details. I called my abusive ex’s parents after one particularly bad episode (which was thankfully the last). I’m not sure how it would’ve gone without them there. He probably wouldn’t have left the house and he might’ve gotten more violent. I think his parents had a civilizing influence on him.

        I didn’t call my parents but in retrospect I wish I had. I thought his parents would collect him and get him away from me – if only to avoid police involvement. Instead they lectured me about how I must’ve done something to trigger him and – my favorite – “he would never really hurt you” – as I sat next to the shards of all the things he’d thrown at me. I wish I’d asked my parents to come so I would’ve had someone on my side.

    • BigLaw Sr Assoc

      Setting aside whether there is a legal basis for his complaint, and recognizing he made his own bad decisions and should have resisted being manipulated, I am kinda on the guy’s side.

      • Anon

        The complaint doesn’t say at all why they broke up though, despite how detailed it is for a lot of other things. Plus we’re only getting his side of the story. I do wonder what happened there…

    • Anonymous

      What good will getting the ring back do? My understanding is that diamonds have a much, much smaller value on the secondary market – so he can maybe resell this for $10 or $20k. Is all the litigation really worth that for this amount, especially for someone in Big Law?

      • Anonymous

        No. But while the headline focuses on the diamond, one of the exhibits is a list of other personal property of his she apparently still has, and there are several items on there that appear to have a lot of sentimental value, so maybe it’s not really just about the diamond?

    • Coach Laura

      Negotiation 101 – he should have gotten the ring before he left the apartment. She gets the apartment until the dissertation was done, he gets the ring. He lost all negotiating power when he left. I’m on his side but wow, how painful.

  3. East Coast short trip suggestions?

    I would like to take a long weekend/short trip (4-5 days) on the East Coast the second week of October. Requirements are: cute seaside area, long walks on the beach, outdoor activities nearby (hiking, biking, etc), good restaurants nearby, ideally some other stuff to do if the weather is terrible, Northern part of the East Cost (we will be driving down from Montreal).

    We’ve done Maine (Portland, Bar Harbor area, Midcoast Maine) and love it but would consider branching out. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe coastal Massachusetts or even Cape Cod, but it might be really dead in October?

    • Amanda

      In Massachusetts, I recommend Newburyport, Rockport and Gloucester; just a little bit north of MA, Portsmouth, NH is nice too. All are small but cute – you probably wouldn’t have much to keep you busy for more than a day or two in the towns themselves, but there are hiking/biking/walking options close by. For the Cape, I personally love the quietness of October. You just have to do a little more research ahead of time to confirm the winter hours of the restaurants, hotels or activities you are interested in.

    • Anonymous

      Have you done Maine in the fall? I think the Acadia area is so beautiful in the fall and its’ very different than the summer.

    • Pompom

      Newport RI. Definitely not off season yet (weather will be perfect IMHO), so 90% of things will be open and humming along, but you’re outside of peak summer prices on lodging. Plenty to do nearby that is outdoorsy, including Cliff Walk, Sachuest Point, Beavertail, Rose Island, flying a kite at Bretton Point, all manner of sailing things…

    • Anonymous

      For one thing, Salem MA will not be dead! Ipswich is also a good spot because of the apple picking not far from the beach. And the 1634 Meadery is a cool spot!

  4. Anonymous

    That’s on the long side? That dress looks to be the right length to me…

  5. Velma

    I love the coordinating dress–and at 40″, it is a perfect mid-knee length on me. (I am about 5’7″.)

  6. Anon

    WHBM is not exactly a retailer of high quality, made to last clothing. I can’t imagine spending $1,700 there on clothing you’ll wear for how long exactly? That kind of gross, crass consumerism isn’t something I’d be bragging about.

    • Anon

      Some people have weight loss, new jobs, or just haven’t bought anything in a while and need a new wardrobe. Nobody was bragging.

    • Anon

      1) Actually their clothes last many years with proper care – especially as compared to cheap brands. This is a mid-range brand for working women professionals. Not everyone can have a curated closet of $400 dresses , especially if they want to stay on trend and not wear the same cut of black dress for 10 yrs. Don’t be a snob.

      Also, at $1700, the buyer probably got the equivalent of a new small wardrobe. It’s very easy to spend that amount when suits and dresses range around $100 to $200 (less on sale).

    • jwalk

      Not everyone here is raking in the cash, OK? For some of us, WHBM is what we can afford.

        • Anon

          Maybe she needed an entirely new wardrobe, had less than $2k for it, and it was the best she could do for it.

      • Lyssa

        I consider myself pretty comfortable, and it’s on the expensive side, IMO. (At least, the only with a good sale side for most things.) I’m not sure what the OP is comparing it to (something too expensive for me to even look at?), but I’ve never had a problem with the quality.

    • Anonymous

      I’ve always been very pleased with the quality and price of WHBM clothes. My favorite blazer is from there. I’ve worn it at least twice a week for the last 7 years. It still looks great.

      • Walnut

        I buy my formal wear from WHBM and it’s shockingly durable. I have two dresses in mind that have served me for nearly ten years now and both are still going strong.

    • Anon

      How lovely for you that you “can’t imagine” doing a big shop there. Try not to let the rain drown you when you walk down the steeet with your nose in the air.

      • Anon

        LOL, I’m wearing Old Navy, like I do every day. My complaint isn’t with WHBM, it’s with dropping that much money on clothes that are not meant to last. If you have that much money to spend on clothes (I know I sure don’t!) why not be more responsible with it?

        Look, I know this is a fashion blog and that’s why people read it, and I know that most people here have crap loads of money. But I will never stop thinking that some people go way overboard on the consumerism. That’s an unpopular opinion here, but whatever.

        • Anon

          Clothes last if you’re not wearing them out everyday. Spending $1700 at WHBM will get you around 15 new pieces at average price, much less on sales. If you’re wearing your clothes out that fast with that many pieces of clothing (especially on top of clothes you already own) you sure you don’t have a sweating disorder…or a reason to change your clothes multiple times a day?

        • Anonymous

          OMG. We have absolutely no information to conclude that this person wasn’t being responsible with her money. What is this even???

          • Worry about yourself

            +1

            There’s no need to be rude here, Anon. Just because someone did a thing you wouldn’t do, doesn’t mean the thing they did warrants this level of aggressive incredulity and harsh judgment.

        • Anon

          Actually, their clothes hold up very well – I’ve gotten multiple year use (5+) out of things I’ve gotten there. She’s buying a larger volume in clothes. So what? I have to wear formal business clothes to work, and it takes a little bit of money to buy enough clothes for that. Your judgement is …weird.

        • Anonymous

          You’re wearing a suit that you bought at Old Navy? Or you have a very casual workplace and are judging people who don’t?

    • Anonymous

      If you haven’t been there in a while, you may be surprised. They have nice formal wear an it’s not all their own brand.

    • pugsnbourbon

      There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism anyway. Shall I horrify you with my tales of shopping at Kohls and Target?

      • Hildy

        There is ethical consumption – I buy most of my clothes used. I read this board for career / general life advice and like the community, but am generally pretty shocked and horrified by the sheer amount of stuff people buy. On the plus side, we have a kid and live in NYC but nonetheless have crazy savings just because we think carefully about consumption and don’t buy anything we don’t need.

    • Anon

      I’ve picked up a few pieces from there at Goodwill and they’re in my regular rotation. The ones I have are synthetic fabric of a good weight, hold their shape well and seem damn near indestructible. Honestly, I’ve been impressed… for synthetics, they’re pretty damn good. YMMV, I suppose. I don’t know that I’ve ever been in their store.

  8. paging Blind Attorney and Anons

    Just caught up on the thread yesterday re: visually-impaired/blind employees, and I loved the information you shared! I work for a company that tries to make our products accessible to all, and I’d love to do an interview and/or invite you to do a guest post for us if you’re willing to share your insights in a more formal way.

    If you’re willing to get in touch, I’m happy to send you an email with more details. In any case, thanks for sharing your tools and experience, I learned a lot!

    • Anonymous

      I’m the anon accessibility consultant and would be glad to share; what is your email?

    • Blind Attorney

      Happy to get in touch. Can you post a burner email address here to which I can respond?

      • Paging Blind Attorney and Anons

        You can both send me a note at writerette365 (at) gmail (dot) com, thanks! I’ll make proper introductions to my company email once we connect.

  9. Huzzah?!

    Kat always writes this and I’ve never heard anyone say it in real life. So in my head it’s like she’s pretending she just did a magic trick. Like “ta-dah!” Does it just mean great?

    • Ugh

      I think it’s more like “hooray” or “yay”? Regardless, the use of it drives me INSANE and it’s annoyingly twee for a website dedicated to corporate women. I tend to skim/skip Kat’s introduction 90% of the time…

      • Non

        I always skip the intro writing. Half the time, i scroll so quickly i can’t even tell you what the featured item was. I read all the posts yesterday and i have no idea what the featured items were. Shoes? Bags? A blazer? It’s not why i’m here.

          • Anonymous

            Why would you say that about someone’s work? Why go out of your way to comment and criticize?

          • Anonymama

            Well, I think most criticism comes with the hope for improvement. Bloggers do whole big surveys to find out what people are reading and want to read more of, or less of, or what will encourage people to comment or return to the website. Readers are, in some ways, similar to clients, and I’d hope most people are responsive to client concerns about their work (within reason of course).

      • Blind Attorney

        As a blind reader, I appreciate the intro, as it gives me at least a bit of a description of what the featured item looks like.

    • Panda Bear

      I think of it as akin to ‘hooray!’ Not that I hear many if any real life huzzahs either… but it feels (pleasantly) like something a Dickens’ character might shout in the streets of 19th century London.

    • Anonymous

      It just makes me think of the Dilly Dilly commercials. Not a great association for a professional blog.

      • Anonymous

        Y’all are so ridiculous. It’s not a bad or unprofessional phrase, it’s just a phrase. It doesn’t matter if you l ike it or dislike it.

    • Lyssa

      I think that it’s cute in print and have no objections to it. That said, my main association with having heard it spoken was a line by Mr. Burns in an old Simpson’s episode.

    • anon

      It’s just a quirky little phrase that was really popular maybe 5+ years ago? like pirates or something.

  10. Anonymous

    What is your favorite ways to store your everyday jewelry, particularly long necklaces? Stand? Jewelry box? Hooks on the wall? Inside a drawer? I currently place in felt lined tray inside top dresser drawer but necklaces tend to get tangled.

  11. Anonymous

    What’s your favorite eye cream? Do you have a different one for AM/PM? Looking for a new one.

  12. Anonymous

    Can you ever give constructive feedback to a former boss-now colleague about how they treat subordinates? I’m thinking about the law firm context but open to hearing about this outside of law too. I know a lot of partners who have come up through the ranks and eventually outrank their former bosses/mentors. I’m curious about how that relationship changes over the years. Is there ever some sort of reckoning where you tell that partner who forced out your work BFF that hey you’ve alienated our best talent?

    • C2

      Not a lawyer, but I’ve dealt with this in other settings. I would use my current stature to have a dialogue with my colleague going forward about specific instances you observe going forward. I would not drag up the past with this person. Your work BFF may very well have been a star and a great person, but it’s also possible she/he had work product or other issues you weren’t aware of.

    • P

      No. I’ve seen it done at my firm, but it has to come from above (managing partner).

  13. Kelsey

    I am working with a fantastic 1st year associate who wears too much makeup. We’re talking Lady Gaga eyeliner, etc. Please tell me there’s no role for me to say anything to her, right? We’ve talked a lot here about inappropriate clothing worn by summer interns, etc. but makeup seems different because there is no minimum (or maximum standard). But I’ve had at least 2 partners describe this associate as the one that has the weird eye makeup and it makes me uncomfortable.

    • Rainbow Hair

      (I have a headache and opinions toady but I think…) she should wear whatever the heck she wants on her face, provided it’s not like “F U” spelled out in cursive in her winged eyeliner… which would be amazing actually but only for the weekends.

      Makeup is an impossible game for women to play. Maybe more impossible than the clothes game. Have her back. “The associate with the weird eye makeup?” “Oh Jane! Yeah she’s got style! Did I tell you she killed it on the research she did for me on the Jones matter?!”

      • Anonymous

        I want an opinions toady! (I know this is a typo but I love the word toady. I hope your headache feels better soon).

    • Anonymous

      I think it would be kind for someone to tell her that it would be in her own best interest to tone it down. Make-up can be unprofessional just like hairstyles, accessories, or clothing. Sounds like a job for the HR department/office manager/recruiting coordinator.

    • SC

      Eh, since you’ve overheard other people commenting, if you have a good relationship with her, you could take her out for coffee and say that you’ve heard that some people are distracted by it. And let her do what she wants with that information. It’s possible if she’s really that great, her makeup will get adopted into her identity as a bad*ss. But that’s an uphill battle, and it might be kind to let her know her makeup is a thing in the office and to let her decide what to do with that information.

    • Anonymous

      On the one hand, it’s probably important for her to know she’s wearing too much makeup. But putting myself in her shoes for a second, it’s gonna feel weird if it comes from someone she doesn’t know well yet, and it could easily feel patronizing or condescending if delivered wrong, it really should come either from her boss (if her boss is female), or a trusted female peer if she has one yet. Otherwise, let it go, and as Rainbow Hair suggested, if people are talking about her behind her back, you could defend her by mentioning all the good work she’s been doing. “Oh Jane? Yeah she’s been kicking butt at this job! Did you hear she . . .”

    • Alanna of Trebond

      Why is it a problem that people referred to her that way? It means that they know who she is. There need to be more people who give no F***s in biglaw and fewer people who feel pressured to dress the exact same way….

      • Anonymous

        I like this. Also, if she’s fantastic (your word) then it sounds like she has solid judgment in other areas of her working life. She obviously knows that she wears loud eye makeup. She probably did her cost-benefit analysis on it and is perfectly happy to be identified with it. Good for her. If it really is a problem, that’s for someone else to address with her.

    • Anonymous

      You are her supervisor, not her BFF. It is not your place to give her makeup tips. It IS your place to give her constructive feedback about her actual job performance. Does her eyeliner get in the way of her research abilities? No? Then no, it is not an appropriate subject for feedback.

      • Anonymous

        Your view on this makes no sense to me. She picked a business where she needs partners to staff her on matters and clients to ask for her on their accounts. Being told something like this could hold her back is doing her a solid, not providing inappropriate input.

    • Anon

      The issue isn’t that her makeup is too much, but rather that it is what she is becoming known for. Your work should shine more than a “unique” physical attribute (especially one that you are in control of everyday and can change at a whim). Informing her of this impression is not necessary, but a kindness. She can tone it down or embrace it as her “look”, her choice.

      I’d want to know if my extreme makeup was distracting over my work, especially as a first year. We’re not talking about the existence of noticeable makeup but rather drag level make-up, which is what Lady Gaga is known for. If it’s not in line with your office culture she has a right to know.

      • Anonymous

        I wouldn’t want to know if something like a scar, vitiligo, albinism, etc., etc. were “distracting” from my work. A workplace that can’t handle the visual distraction of eyeliner probably cannot handle a visual “distraction” that isn’t the person’s own choice, and that’s a problem. So maybe they should let go of whether it’s a choice or not in the first place.

    • Anonymous

      Are you in litigation? I honestly think if it’s that over the top (and I’m picturing real Lady Gaga makeup here, not just dramatic/winged eyeliner) then I think telling her before she appears in court is fair. It’s not fair for her coworkers to judge, but you know who will judge (fair or not)? Old man judges. She shouldn’t make it harder on herself/her clients than it already is to be a woman litigator.

    • Anonymous

      I think you owe to her to tell her. She can then decide if this is a compromise she wants to make.

    • Anon

      I would absolutely mention to her that you’ve heard partners comment on her eye makeup. I’m a lawyer who has given this sort of feedback to summer associates and interns in various workplaces over the years and 9 out of 10 times it’s extremely welcome. Most of the time, it’s clearly a result of not having come from a privileged background where your parents are taking you shopping for your work wardrobe and modeling how to look professional.

      For all of the commenters saying that it shouldn’t matter what her makeup looks like if she’s doing good work — yeah, sure, but we all know that’s not how things actually work. This is absolutely the sort of intangible that holds talented people back in the workplace.

  14. winter uniform?

    I live in the SEUS and am trying to put together a winter “uniform” to wear to my business very casual workplace. I’m thinking of ponte dresses with a big scarf, tights and boots/wedges, but I’m afraid the big scarf seems dated. Thoughts?

    • Vicky Austin

      If you are thinking of big scarves like the one in the picture on this very post, I think it looks really chic tbh.

    • IHHtown

      Only wear a scarf when weather calls for it, and then only outside. Wearing a winter scarf (as opposed to a decorative one) indoors at work is kind of weird, and, tbh, I don’t think women under 50 pull off the “decorative scarf draped around my neck like a napkin” look very well.

      My winter uniform in the South is – ponte dress with sweater and tights under a peacoat. Shoes are the same as summer (closed toe) save for rain considerations, and the occasional bootie. Alternatively, I do slacks and a cashmere or other thick sweater with similar shoes as above. Replace sweater with thicker material blouse and winter weight blazer on warmer days.

      • North Florida Anon

        Or when you have a cold snap on the weekend when climate control is turned off in your building and your office (which heats and cools in academic/geologic time) doesn’t reach 60 degrees again until Wednesday. Then wear *all* the scarves, hats, gloves and coats you like.

    • Anonymous

      I think the eternity scarf is definitely dated, but other styles are classic though they can age you.

    • Anon

      I’m in the SEUS, at a big state Uni, and my winter uniform is either skirt, black tights shirt & cardigan (or tee & sweater), or trousers with tights underneath (dude, my office is COLD!), shirt and one of a few blazers (all three vintage Talbots, 2 velvet, 1 camel… judge all you like, it’s academia, LOL).

      • pugsnbourbon

        The other day my coworker wore a cute gray dress over black tights with flat black boots, and she looked great.

  15. Decor question

    Do black and white landscape photos look weird on the walls of a home? Too gloomy or something?

    • Anonymous

      I hope not! I have some black and whites in my home and I plan to order a couple more!

    • Anonymous

      No, of course not. Lots of people use black and white decor. However, the fact that you brought it up and are wondering about it means that it might feel gloomy to you (or has someone around you talked about black and white as being gloomy)? It’s a super personal thing. If it feels gloomy to you, then go for something else.

  16. Anonymous

    any good blogs or sources of inspiration for casual work wardrobes? I just got hired at a start up and I want to get it right and be stylish, but not quite sure what to expect! the people interviewing me/everyone I saw at the interview was in jeans, but I hate jeans honestly. (also thank you to people who gave me wardrobe advice for the interview obviously it worked out great!)

  17. Anonymous

    Realize it’s probably late and will need to repost, but I have a senior and are looking at schools.

    We are in the Bay Area and I went to school on the east coast…so not familiar with these at all.

    We are looking at:
    – University of Wisconsin Madison
    – University of Illinois Urbana
    – University of Minnesota Twin Cities

    Flying out next week to visit them — so excited! But if anyone has any tips or comments or any of the schools they are very welcome!

    (also applying to Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State as well as UCs…but these are the ones we are visiting next week)

    • Celia

      These are all really big state schools. No small, liberal arts, low professor-to-student ratio schools?

    • Anonymous

      I grew up in Champaign, and it’s a great town. Be sure to check out downtown Champaign, which has a lot more bars/restaurants/shops than downtown Urbana. The Blind Pig, Radio Maria, Cafe Kopi, and Aroma Cafe are favorites in Champaign, and in Urbana check out the Courier (amazing peanut butter milkshakes!). Also check out the beautiful gardens and Japan House right by the president’s house, Meadowbrook park for the prairie restoration, and Curtis Orchard for apple picking/donuts to get a sense of some of the outdoor options. You will want to walk around several of the quads (I recommend heading south from the main quad past the Morrill plots, or north to the engineering quad/computer buildings, depending on what your child is interested in), and walk down Green Street to get a sense of the restaurants. (Za’s is good for make-your-own pizza, and there are a ton of good Asian restaurants. Papa Del’s is Chicago-style deep dish.) You might also want to drive around the “State streets” just east of campus, in Urbana, because that’s where a lot of professors live, and also a lot of students who share houses. The bigger apartment complexes are farther out in Urbana or north of the interstate in Champaign, but there are also a ton downtown.

      It’s a great place, with an amazing cultural scene. All sorts of big name acts come to perform on their way from Chicago to Memphis or St. Louis.

  18. Bettysmith

    Minnesotan here. Everyone local calls these schools Madison or the U of M/the U if your in Minnesota. Madison has an amazing, beautiful campus. It’s a complete college town and they whole area feels very safe and dedicated to the campus. However be prepared for it to feel super super midwestern compared to the bay area (like you will drive in and possibly pass strip malls, applebees, etc). They have an issue with lack of local big companies so lots of grads move to Minneapolis, Chicago etc. U of M is more urban and near lots of big companies (Target, Cargill) for internship opportunities. I went there for grad school but would have been intimated by the urban feel as an undergrad. However, overall the twin cities are pretty safe and very clean. Both schools are great for health professions. I don’t know anything about Illinois. It is easy to get to the Minneapolis airport from U of M.

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